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Total cost of ownership - how to reduce it

Audiogon members love their music - but I am not alone, I think, in finding that the requirements in terms of cost and time for keeping the system running at optimal, can become too steep. Can we help each other out?

Today I have spent two hours trying to find a failed tube in my system. Two months ago I had a bad episode with a repair service that did not repair and did not return my stuff. Some weeks ago, I blew a speaker driver, I am still waiting for the replacement. Thinking, I need a tube tester, since my system has a lot of tubes - I got the tester, but it blew tubes, not "dead on arrival" but "over-excited" - and has to be repaired. I am perhaps especially unlucky. But I ask myself, how much is enough? When such experiences accumulate, I can understand people plugging into Mp3, it is simple and it works.

I have thought about my situation and diagnosed two main types of problems - maybe, relevant for other Audiogon members also.

The first is where you buy a thing used and then get it upgraded by the manufacturer. You pay quite a lot for this, and you would expect the whole thing is checked - but it is not. In two cases now, I have experienced that even if the upgrade works fine, the box as a whole is not checked, and develops problems a year or two after the upgrade.

The second case is where you pay for an upgrade that is more like a new build (e g of a speaker) or rebuild (of a cartridge). Now, there is no lagging wear and tear problem, but it turns out that the upgrade parameters were not fully developed, things have to be changed or checked afterwards (speaker drivers dont work optimal, needle not quite in place, etc).

I would be the first to recognize that some of these costs (time, mainly, but money also) should be accepted. I have paid local repair costs without complaining, and have used many hours of my own time. As an advanced user, I accept some extra costs.

It is just that, sometimes it gets too much.

I would like other Audiogon users' thoughts on this dilemma, and especially, what can we do to reduce the total ownership costs.

Your thoughts and experiences welcome.
Ag insider logo xs@2xo_holter
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,333 posts
 
A good quality digital integrated amp from a reputable maker fed by a good quality streaming device (need not cost much) with moderately efficient speakers that it can drive well that fit well into your listening space is a good approach.

An example is my second system currently, Amazon Fire TV (running Plex app to stream from my music library) or older Logitech Squeezebox Touch into Bel canto C5i integrated out to whatever speaker floats your boat off just 60 w ch or so. I’ve used several different speakers with this setup all with excellent results. All speakers with just modest efficiency sound great off this amp. It also works well with headphones when needed.

I still have my much larger more powerful main system with separates but I find myself spending more time with the second system lately since putting in the C5i mainly because its in the family room and I don’t have to lock myself away downstairs often to listen because the rest of my family enjoys this setup for music as well as 2 channel theater and is happy to listen to my music library or internet radio for hours on end with it.   We are not big TV or movie watchers.


erik_squires
16,212 posts
 
I see the biggest problem the OP has is upgrade-itis.

Consider building your own speakers. For several reasons:

1. Cost savings
2. Infinite chances to upgrade and tweak parts yourself.

Best,


E


dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
Biggest problem OP has is trying to bait responders into his lair: "It seems that high level audio is soon for just those with big money, not those following their ears."

Dave

Ag insider logo xs@2x
o_holter OP
977 posts
 
Hi erik_squires and dlcockrum, sorry for a late reply. I agree that my comment 08-25-2017 was somewhat off-mark. I was really fed up, having waited one and a half year for the repair of a key component. But I am not trying to "bait" anyone into a lair - that's rather fanciful! Nor is the thread a result of upgrade-itis. WE have a problem of reducing costs and troubles with our audio. Not just I. If you want to contribute to the thread, please do so, if not, go somewhere else. For myself, the cost-saving measure over the last year has mainly been to turn off my (tube) system unless actively listening.
wolf_garcia
6,711 posts
 
Regarding the reliability of tube amps, I've dragged tube guitar amps all over for decades, played club gigs at 4 to 6 sets a night driving the bejeesus out of various tubes, with a laughingly low perhaps statistically irrelevant failure rate...seen an amp dropped from a loading ramp (thank you Anvil case company for saving my bacon on that one), knocked off a stool (more than once), blasted with beer...whatever, and these are tube amps residing IN the speaker box (combo amps anyway). I think for most purposes tubes simply sound better than SS, got 'em in my hifi, got 'em in my studio guitar rigs, and recently lent one to John Pizzarelli at a concert I was mixing...he said it sounded better than nearly any amp he'd used recently (A small 15 watt Reverend Goblin combo 6V6 tubed thing with a Jensen Neo 10 speaker). Tubes...gotta have tubes...
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